Ball return mechanism for bowling alleys



Jan. 18, 1955 T. B. KEESLING BALL RETURN MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Oct. 3, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zm my T x T ar 4 M% y ma Jan. 18, 1955 y T. B. KEESLING BALL RETURN MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Oct. 5. 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVEN TOR filo/m4! 5. KEEJZ/N- United States Patent BALL RETURN MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Thomas B. Keesling, San Jose, Calif.

Application October 3, 1949, Serial No. 119,338

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-49) The present invention relates to ball return mechanisms for bowling alleys and is concerned more particularly with a ball return mechanism which is of a simple construction and operates efficiently, and which is safe in use and not likely to get out of order.

The above, among other objects of the invention, are attained in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of the ball return mechanism as installed in a bowling alley.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the ball return mechanism with certain parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the mechanism taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the track and gate structure with one of the gates in operated position.

The invention is illustrated with the ball return mechanism installed between a pair of adjacent bowling alleys to serve as the ball return mechanism for both of the alleys. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the respective alleys have the usual pin supporting surfaces and the usual lower pit or ball receiving surfaces 11 at either side of partition walls 12 which are spaced apart to provide room for the ball return mechanism. If desired, the ball engaging surface of the track 16 may be roughened or coated with a friction providing material to minimize slipping of the balls during their acceleration as later described.

The ball return mechanism includes an inclined track 16, (Figure 1) with respect to which a belt conveyor 17 is mounted in spaced overlying relation, with the lower stretch of the belt preferably converging slightly toward the track 16 in an upward direction. The converging relation is maintained up to the curved portion 16a of the track 16. The belt 17 is preferably of resilient or rubber-like material and is trained about respective driving and idler drums 18 and 19. The drum 18 is mounted by suitable bearings 21 on the side frames 22 of the return mechanism and is driven through a suitable belt and pulley drive 23 from a motor 24. The motor 24 is slidably mounted on the top frame portion 26 with an adjusting screw mechanism 27 provided for belt take up. The idler drum 19 is also suitably mounted by bearings 28 which are carried in guides 29 on the side plates 22 for adjustment by means of screws 31 for controlling the tightness of the belt 17.

Preferably the drum 18 is of special construction and has a deformable outer layer 18a, (Figure 3) of rubber or other rubber-like material to be capable of deformation upon engagement of a bowling ball 33 therewith as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The spacing between the periphery of the drum and the track 16 is slightly less than the diameter of the bowling ball so that the bowling ball is positively gripped by the belt and the drum 18 and is rolled or driven up the inclined track 16 and partially over the curved track portion 16a for discharge onto the ball return track 34 conventionally found in bowling alleys in an elevated relation with respect to the pit surface 11. The pulley or drum 19 is of conventional construction.

To control the feed of balls to the ball return mechanism, the respective feed openings 36 in the side walls 12 have associated therewith respective arcuate track sections or portions 37 which lead laterally and then longitudinally of the respective bowling alleys to merge with each other and become aligned with the inclined track section or portion 16 which has the belt 17 associated therewith. Each curved track section 37, as seen more clearly in Figure 1, is inclined downwardly from the level of the associated opening 36 to provide a gravity feed of a ball down the track section 37 to the track 16 and the belt 17.

In order to control the entry of the balls into the ball return mechanism and to assist in guiding them along the tracks 37, there is provided, in association with each opening 36, a gate 38, best illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, having an arcuate surface which is inclined outwardly and rearwardly from the front end of an associated supporting bar 39 pivoted at 41 on the structure of the bowling alley. The respective arms 39 are connected by spring 42 so that the gates 38 are urged constantly to their closed positions wherein each gate is disposed within the associated opening 36 in position to deflect pins driven from the alley pin deck or surface and avoid their striking the wall defining the opening 36. When a gate 38 is moved to open position, as shown in the lower part of the Figure 4, it will be noted that the curved outline of the gate conforms generally to the associated curved track 37 and aids the track in guiding the ball round the curved outline thereof and onto the straight inclined track section 16. It will also be noted that with one gate 38 in open position, movement of the other gate 38 to such position is blocked until the ball, which is holding the operated gate 38 open, has entered the ball driving mechanism.

In operation, when a ball is pushed into an opening 36 by the pin boy, its weight is sufficient to hold the gate 38 open as it travels down the inclined curved track 37. When the ball becomes engaged between the track 16 and the belt 17 the initial engagement causes a deformation of not only the belt 17 but the driving drum 18 as well, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, so that the ball is positively gripped and driven as it travels up the inclined track 16. The initial deformation of the drum 18 when a ball is engaged thereby reduces the shock load. of pick up and effects a momentary retarding of the drive, and subsequent acceleration to the desired speed. The gripping of the ball is further enhanced by the converging relation of the belt 17 and the track 16. The belt 17 flexes inwardly to its dotted line position in Figure 1 until the ball passes the upper drum 19 where sufiicient clearance is provided by virtue of the curved track portion 16a, so that the ball will travel freely past the drum 19 and on to the track 34. Sufficient velocity is imparted to the ball so that it will return to the player's station for reuse.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

Ina bowling alley having a ball receiving surface and a ball return track adjacent thereto, a ball feed track having a curved portion leading generally laterally from a side of said surface into alignment with said return track and a second portion leading longitudinally to register with said return track, ball feed means disposed along the second portion of said feed track, and a gate between said surface and said curved track portion having an arcuate face, said arcuate face conforming to the curvature of said track portion and being disposed in the open position of said gate to assist in guiding a ball along said curved track portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,051 Vallarino Mar. 28, 1911 1,211,738 Marty Jan. 9, 1917 1,375,835 Fairchild Apr. 26, 1921 2,019,607 Hedenskoog Nov. 5, 1935 2,130,330 Sibley Sept. 13, 1938 2,207,643 Strong July 9, 1940 2,600,918 Pohl June 17, 1952 

